But the 31-year-old's world and chances of a fourth championship came crashing down around him in the burning 34 degree furnace of south east Asia.

Fuming Hamilton blasted his team and said: "I've just got to move on. I just can't believe that there's eight Mercedes cars and only my engines are the ones that have gone this way. Something just doesn't feel right.

PA:Press Association Images

Lewis Hamilton's car sets on fire during the 40th lap of the race in Malaysia

"It was a brand new engine... It is what it is. It's just odd, there's been like 43 engines for Mercedes and only mine have gone.

"Right now I don't even know if my car's going to make it. I know we've got it in us but who knows what the next engines that I have are going to do.

"Something or someone doesn't want me to win this world championship.

"My question is to Mercedes. Someone needs to give me some answers because this is not acceptable."

Ham's nemesis Nico Rosberg finished third and stretched his lead to 23 points with five races to go.

But he was whacked by Sebastian Vettel at the FIRST corner at the Sepang circuit and had to claw his way back from 19th.

Teenage tearaway and second-placed Verstappen knew who to blame, slamming the German as a madman saying: "Sebastian is crazy! He went into Rosberg like a f***ing idiot."

Getty Images

Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel have a coming together in Malaysia

But Vettel defended himself as he returned to the paddock after being summoned by the race stewards and said: "Both of us are making the corner, but Nico decides he is taking a different line.

"That is two things that are wrong. Nico, without any blame, gets turned around, and secondly I am standing here when the race is still going on. If you are squeezed to the inside your angle doesn't get better for turn one.

"I was trying to turn to get the corner. Nico tries to cut back to fight Lewis and we made contact. Nico is not to blame, but I do not see what I could have done massively different."

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